Patrick Trabal

Le logiciel Prospéro à l'épreuve d'un corpus de résumés sociologiques

The Program Prospéro Tried Out Against A Corpus of Sociological Abstracts: The objective of this article is to test the potential of the program, Prospéro, for analyzing the abstracts of the first congress of the French Sociological Association (AFS). Prospéro was conceived as a program for the analysis of corpora of texts characterized by a certain variability (particularly in the use of argumentation and time). We consider these abstracts as a “dossier; that is, as a collection of texts characterized by the unknowns and the obligations of authors proposing a presentation in a Thematic Network (TN) session. To begin with, we show how much receding – done by the researcher in the case of Prospéro – is decisive in determining the level of analysis and of hypothesis testing. We then propose a model describing the expectations of a potential presenter and construct categories, collections and fictitious entities to test this model. The program, in this context, functions as an instrument for identifying singular properties of the corpus (for example, judging the usefullness of a category or a collection in characterizing a TN). But it also identifies atypical texts which can encourage the modification of the model. Finally, we study how presenters adapt to the requirements of a proximity between the abstract and the call for papers distributed by the TNs. This approach shows that only a few TNs bring together texts sharing similar characteristics. This work permits us to identify certain interesting aspects of French sociology and, in particular, the possibilities and the limits of Prospéro. The program functions as a research tool which can test a researchers interpretations, hypotheses and models. The program would be even more useful if corpora could be complemented by texts permitting a variation (particularly historic) which would benefit the analysis of sociological scientific production.

Forms and Modes of Apprehending Interdisciplinarity: A Socio-Computer Analysis of Sports Sciences

This article considers the interdisciplinary character of sports sciences, which holds a double challenge. On one hand, demonstrating how the analysis of a corpus of scientific texts contributes – without exhausting the magnitude of the scientific work – to a better knowledge of a field of interdisciplinary research: sports sciences. On the other hand, on a methodological level, tools and computer strategies have been developed in order to analyze textual data. This article reveals how interdisciplinarity explicitly appears in scientific papers, not only as a discussion topic, but also as an organizational watchword in sports sciences. Besides, the analysis of this corpus helps to finely characterize active forms of interdisciplinary work organized around hybrid disciplines or specific research subjects.

Des vigiles invisibles: les administrateursréseaux et la sécurité informatique

RésuméCet article vise à décrire l’activité des administrateurs-réseaux en portant l’analyse sur les modes de traitement des situations critiques et des alertes qui émaillent le fonctionnement ordinaire des réseaux informatiques. Notre matériau empirique nous a conduits à recenser les différents risques et à repérer les façons de les anticiper et de les gérer. Pour identifier, qualifier et rendre tangibles des vulnérabilités, ces professionnels doivent mener l’enquête. Leur travail souffre d’un manque de reconnaissance de la part des autres acteurs qui entretiennent souvent un rapport magique au «réseau» lequel évoluerait indépendamment des actions des personnes. Les administrateurs s’efforcent d’enrôler les usagers pour construire une vigilance collective. Ils espèrent ainsi rendre lisible leur activité et solliciter un sens de la responsabilité vis-à-vis des dispositifs techniques. Dans cette perspective, le virtuel n’a pas tué le réel mais lui a, au contraire, donné une prégnance encore plus forte.AbstractThe aim of this paper is to describe the activity of Network Administrators, in analyzing the ways used to manage the critical situations and alerts which punctuate the ordinary operations of computer networks. Our empirical material leads us to identify different kinds of risks and the manners to anticipate and manage them. To spot, qualify and make tangible, vulnerabilities, these professionals have to hold inquiries. Their works suffer a lack of gratitude from the other actors who conceive the network as a magical world running without human intervention. Administrators try to convince users of the need for some collective vigilance. By so doing, they hope their activities will be made visible and will appeal to a sense of responsibility towards technical devices. In this way, the Virtual has not killed the Real but, on the contrary, has given a has given a most important substance to it.

E se os esportistas que se dopam quisessem "fazer direito"?

This article is presented as a contribution to the sociology of doping, proposing a new approach. It is about, at first, expressing reservations on the sociology that reduces the practice of doping to individual decisions or to the consequences of games of dominance, to bear the complexity and variability that invite us to take as object the uncertainties of the sportspeople and the collective discussions they have. On the other hand, a methodology coming from the most recent developments of socioinformatics is proposed, in order to analyse 244.417 left by users of discussion lists. this study helps understand the way athletes can doubt, mobilize some resources to raise their uncertainties, argue, deprecate their opponents, especially when they are doctors. The last session presents some suggestions and questions on the possibility of creating a new methodology to capture changes in the practice of doping.